Listen to the audio pronunciation 3 times to gain XP
March 24, 2026
紧(緊)jǐn(jin3)
The character 紧 (jǐn) means 'tight' or 'close,' and it can refer to physical tightness, such as a tightly fastened object, or an emotional state, like being under pressure or feeling urgent. It is commonly used in contexts that express urgency or strictness, such as a tight schedule or strict rules.
Strokes10Radical糸Frequency#1255DifficultyHard
Cultural Note
In Chinese culture, being '紧' often reflects a societal emphasis on diligence and urgency, especially in professional settings where time management is crucial. Expressions like '紧张' (nervous) reflect the cultural importance placed on performance and meeting expectations.
Memory Tip
Imagine a 'jin'gerbread man being squeezed tightly in a jar. The character 紧 has the silk radical (糸) at the top, which is associated with things that are tight or secure, while the bottom part (巾) looks like a piece of cloth that is being pulled tight.
Meanings of 紧
jǐn(jin3)
1tight
2strict
Exercise 1 of 2
Listen & Choose the Meaning
Choose the correct answer:
About 紧
紧Simplified
緊Traditional
10Strokes
糸Radical
形容词xíngróngcíadjective (adj.)Part of Speech
#1255Frequency Rank
HSK 3.0L5ElementaryTOCFLL3HSKKL2BCT✓CEFRA2
Podcast: 紧
Podcast: 紧
Listen to Jason & Amy break down this word for you
New here?
AI Study Notes for 紧
Quick Contrast
紧 (jǐn) vs 紧张 (jǐnzhāng) — use 紧 for physical tightness or closeness, while 紧张 refers specifically to a state of tension or anxiety.
Usage Notes
Be cautious with the tone when pronouncing 紧; a common mistake is to confuse it with the similar-sounding characters. It's often used in both formal and informal contexts, but be aware that in some situations, it may sound too blunt if used to describe people. Common collocations include '紧张' (jǐnzhāng - nervous) and '紧急' (jǐnjí - urgent).
HSK Study Tips
Although 紧 is not officially listed in HSK vocabulary, it is relevant for advanced learners. Students should focus on understanding its various contexts, including how it combines with other characters to form phrases about urgency or emotional states, like '紧急情况' (urgent situation).
Common Mistakes
Learners often confuse 紧 with the character 近 (jìn), which means 'near.' An example mistake is using '近' when describing a tight deadline, which should be '紧急.' Another common error is using the wrong tone, leading to misunderstanding.
AI-enhanced 2026-03-24
Pronunciation of 紧
Premium — Locked
AI tone practice
Pro
Drill the tone of 紧 with AI-powered exercises, get instant feedback, and earn XP toward mastery. Interactive tone practice is part of Pro.
Simplified form of 緊. Phonosemantic compound. 臣 represents the sound, while 又 and 糸 represent the meaning.
1The meaning half糸 carries the sense.
2The giveawaysilk
3On the record aspictophonetic.
Every clue here comes from the character's recorded structure — nothing is guessed.
Want the full history of 紧? Jason searches the paleographic record, weighs the competing accounts and judges the popular story.
Charged once for this character — everyone reads it afterwards.
Exercise 1 of 1
Character Formation Type
What type of character formation is 紧?
Decomposition of 紧
IDS Structure⿱⿰？又糸
紧Full Character
=
又you4
left
糸mi4
right
Exercise 1 of 2
Identify the Components
Which of these is a component of 紧?
How to say tight in Chinese
“tight” in Chinese is紧jǐn
The character 紧 (jǐn) means 'tight' or 'close,' and it can refer to physical tightness, such as a tightly fastened object, or an emotional state, like being under pressure or feeling urgent. It is commonly used in contexts that express urgency or strictness, such as a tight schedule or strict rules.
When to use 紧
Be cautious with the tone when pronouncing 紧; a common mistake is to confuse it with the similar-sounding characters. It's often used in both formal and informal contexts, but be aware that in some situations, it may sound too blunt if used to describe people. Common collocations include '紧张' (jǐnzhāng - nervous) and '紧急' (jǐnjí - urgent).
紧 or something close to it
紧 (jǐn) vs 紧张 (jǐnzhāng) — use 紧 for physical tightness or closeness, while 紧张 refers specifically to a state of tension or anxiety.
What learners get wrong
Learners often confuse 紧 with the character 近 (jìn), which means 'near.' An example mistake is using '近' when describing a tight deadline, which should be '紧急.' Another common error is using the wrong tone, leading to misunderstanding.
Write 紧
紧
New here? to save your writing progress and earn XP.
Practice writing 紧 stroke by stroke. Watch the animation to learn the stroke order, then try writing it yourself.
Write correctly 3 times to earn XP
Grammar Patterns of 紧
紧 functions as an adjective. In Chinese it behaves like a stative verb: place it directly after the subject without 是 (我很高，not 我是高). Use 不 to negate (不高) and pair it with 很 in plain affirmative sentences. It carries 10 related meanings, each with its own usage notes below. The example sentences below show it in action, with practice buttons (Listen, Practice Writing, Practice Speaking) on every line.
To remember the meaning of 紧, think of scenarios where something is physically tight, like a tightly sealed jar. Associating the character with situations that evoke urgency or tension can also help solidify its meaning in your memory.
Some synonyms for 紧 include 严格 (yángé) which means 'strict,' and 紧急 (jǐnjí) which means 'urgent.' Depending on the context, you may also encounter related terms like 紧凑 (jǐncòu) meaning 'compact' or 'tight-knit.'
You can use 紧 in sentences to describe something that is tight or urgent. For example, '这条裤子太紧了' (zhè tiáo kùzi tài jǐn le) means 'These pants are too tight.' Another example is '我很紧张' (wǒ hěn jǐnzhāng), meaning 'I am very anxious.'
紧 (jǐn) primarily means 'tight' or 'close.' It can also refer to something that is 'strict' or 'urgent.' In various contexts, it may describe a tense situation or something that is physically close at hand.
Make sure to use the third tone (jǐn), as mispronouncing it can lead to confusion with other characters.
It's used in both physical and emotional contexts, such as describing a tight object or feeling anxious about a deadline.
Typically, it has a more negative or neutral connotation, but in terms of security, it can imply reliability.
Jason Recommends
Not sure what to learn after 紧?
Jason picks three words from your level and explains why each one is worth your time next. It takes a free account so he knows what you already know.
